The MoU was signed by Mr. O.P. Singh, Senior General Manager (TTDV & SBU Head), NSIC Ltd.; Mrs. Bismita Das, Assistant General Manager, NSTFDC; and Mr. Tapankumar G. Kanekar, Chief General Manager (TS & CSR), RSP. The signing ceremony was held in the presence of Mr. T. Roumuan Paite, CMD, NSTFDC and Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, along with senior officials from the participating organisations.

Under the initiative, vocational skill development training will be provided to tribal youth in six trades, namely Self-Employment Tailoring, Assistant Beautician, Assistant Computer Operator, Bread and Bakery Manufacturing, Mushroom Farming, and Electrician Training. The programmes are aimed at equipping beneficiaries with practical, market-oriented skills to enhance their employability and facilitate self-employment and income generation.

A key highlight of the initiative is its focus on women’s empowerment, with more than 60% of the beneficiaries being women. By enabling access to vocational training and livelihood opportunities, the programme seeks to strengthen their economic independence and contribute to the socio-economic development of tribal communities.

Through this collaborative initiative, NSIC, NSTFDC and RSP reaffirm their commitment to inclusive skill development, tribal welfare, entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihood generation. The partnership is expected to create meaningful opportunities for underprivileged tribal youth and support their journey towards economic self-reliance.

The collaboration will unify key national programs, integrating the Zero Defect Zero Effect (ZED) Certification Scheme with NSIC’s MSME Global Mart and Single Point Registration Scheme (SPRS). Under this framework, ZED-certified MSMEs will benefit from enhanced digital commerce opportunities, onboarding on the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) via the TEAM Initiative, AI-enabled product cataloging, and dedicated export promotion. Furthermore, the partnership will strengthen laboratory infrastructure through NABL accreditation for NSIC facilities and leverage NABET to run customized capacity-building programs across training centers.

To drive effective execution, both organizations are constituting a Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) that will meet quarterly to monitor progress and identify fresh avenues for collaboration. Leadership from both entities emphasized that the alliance merges quality consciousness with extensive market outreach. By empowering grassroots businesses to confidently enter domestic and global supply chains, the initiative marks a significant step forward in building a robust, quality-driven corporate landscape for India’s massive MSME sector. (PIB)

The new facility aims to offer specialised training opportunities to youth and the industrial workforce in emerging areas of industrial automation. It seeks to position the centre as a modern, multi-disciplinary, industry-ready advanced training hub, while supporting skill development initiatives and further empowering the MSME ecosystem. The ‘Innovolts Lab’ was inaugurated by Dr Subhransu Sekhar Acharya, CMD, NSIC, yesterday , in the presence of senior officials from the NSIC Corporate Office and NTSC, Okhla.

The Forum began with welcome remarks from the Co-chairs, Ms. Mercy Epao, Joint Secretary (SME), Ministry of MSME, and Dr. GJ Lee, Director General, SMESA, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taiwan. This was followed by keynote addresses from Dr. Subhransu Acharya, CMD, NSIC, and Dr. Lewis Chen, General Director, ITRI, Taiwan.

The program featured expert presentations and a panel discussion on the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in the EV sector.

A 30-member Taiwanese delegation took part in the Forum, including senior officials from SMESA, ITRI, and representatives of 12 leading Taiwanese automotive and EV companies.

The Forum created a strong platform for collaboration, bringing together business leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs from both countries to explore digital advancements and sustainable growth in the automotive and EV industry.

CMD, NSIC inaugurates the 5 th EV India Expo Dr. Subhransu Acharya, CMD, NSIC, along with Ms. Mercy Epao, Joint Secretary-SME, Ministry of MSME, jointly inaugurated the 5th edition of EV India Expo at the India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida.

Organized by Indian Exhibition Services in collaboration with the Green Society of India, the expo serves as a premier platform advancing India’s transition toward sustainable and electric mobility.

The inauguration ceremony commenced with the traditional lighting of the ceremonial lamp by the dignitaries, followed by a guided tour of the exhibition. They commended the diverse array of cutting-edge innovations and emerging technologies showcased by participants in the electric vehicle sector.

Addressing the gathering, the Union Minister congratulated NSIC on completing seven decades of dedicated service to the MSME sector and lauded its role as a catalyst in strengthening and nurturing India’s vibrant micro, small and medium enterprises. He emphasised the importance of creating widespread awareness of NSIC’s schemes among entrepreneurs and highlighted the need to provide comprehensive handholding support to MSMEs, particularly in the domains of capacity building, innovation support,

S. S. Acharya, CMD, NSIC, reaffirmed NSIC’s commitment to advancing the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, emphasising that NSIC will continue to play a pivotal role in enabling the growth, competitiveness and resilience of MSMEs in India. He further added that the 70th Foundation Day celebration was not only a tribute to the Corporation’s rich legacy but also a reaffirmation of its resolve to build a stronger and more self-reliant entrepreneurial ecosystem for the future.

He also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all stakeholders who have been instrumental in NSIC’s journey over the past seven decades.

Others present at the event included S.C.L. Das, Secretary (MSME), Rajneesh, Additional Secretary & Development Commissioner (MSME), Mercy Epao, Joint Secretary (MSME), besides Directors of NSIC, senior officials from the Government of India, representatives of NITI Aayog, Industry Associations, and MSME entrepreneurs.